Most feared medical procedure

What was or is the medical procedure you fear most?

Throughout my youth and adolescence my greatest fear was the inevitable painful humiliation of bending over a receptionist's lap with pants down for her to watch me get injections (penicillin when I was ill and booster shots when I wasn't) in my vulnerable bare bottom. At the time I feared the embarrassment even more than the pain but I wouldn't mind getting injections like that now!

There are two equal ones for me .

The insertion of an NG tube and the insertion of a chest drain .

Ever since the aspiration pneumonia last year I can't relax ever when they insert an NG tube . I know the odds on it ever happening again are pretty remote but I just don't remain calm .

I hate chest drains just as much too . They are uncomfortable once placed , restricting and hurt badly on insertion and removal.

Nikki

Surgery, you don't know what's going on, your life is in someone else's hands and they have all the control.

I am actually quite scared about having a mammogram. And I'm getting to that age, so I know the day is coming…

I hate chest drains just as much too . They are uncomfortable once placed , restricting and hurt badly on insertion and removal.

I had a chest drain placed during surgery and when in place it was very very unpleasant. Not quite painful, but almost. When it was going to be removed, a few nurses came in and acted more nervous than I felt. They pulled it out and when it popped out of the opening in my side, I felt an immediate sense of relief, I think I sighed in relaxation that the annoying thing was finally out. Not a bit of pain when pulling it out, it felt more like an itch being scratched. Maybe I was lucky ...

On the other hand, things I absolutely dread to death: a bronchoscopy and anything inserted inside my throat through the mouth. Makes me feel as if I am being choked to death. Since a form of atropine is given prior to this to dry up saliva production, it makes the heart beat faster, which only increases the sense of dread.

Also scares me silly is any kind of surgery to do with my eyes. Never had anything done like that, but the thought alone is awful.

And while we are at it, a lobotomy, while hopefully not being on the surgical menu anymore, is enough to make my blood run cold. Especially when I read that an ice-pick like instrument is somehow inserted through the eye socket ... argghhh. I can't even imagine how that is done without blinding the person in the process.

Surgery, any procedure involving anesthesia and opening my body.

Bone marrow biopsy,

NG tube, Chest drain and surgery.

i have had three bone marrow biopsies and they are just way too gruesome similar with ng tube and chest drains ,Intercoastal injections and placement of central line.

I agree with some of the other comments. Basically any procedure where I am completely unconscious and my life is totally in someone else's hands. That scares me.

Even though I love roleplaying it, I would have to say surgery would be my most feared real life procedure. There's something wrong that needs to be fixed and you're going to be completely unconscious during the procedure. I know that most people make it through surgery just fine, especially the young and healthy, but there's always the possibility that you won't wake up.

I'd have to say a spinal tap is the worst I've ever experienced - to confirm a case of polio as a child. I'll take catheters, prostate biopsy, or cystoscopy any day without a complaint.

I don't fear surgery or general anaesthesia per se (I actually like the thought and fantasy aspects of it). But I may well fear certain procedures due to their very nature or the reason for surgery being a serious illness, for example.

I may have laser eye surgery in the future and I am not keen on the thought of that.

My last bronchoscopy was a real trial so I shall not look forward to another in any way whatsoever.

Spinal tap is no joke and wasn't really pleasant at all!

I am actually quite scared about having a mammogram. And I'm getting to that age, so I know the day is coming…

Absolutely nothing to fear. The different plates, the worst thing is they could be cold against your skin. Have had several and other than chilly plates, they position you are in is a tad bit uncomfortable, but it is over in seconds. It us surprisingly quick and of course so non invasive. Don't sweat it. ?

I would fear any time if transplant, bone marrow spinal tap or tube placed into my lung or sown my throat.

I would have to say surgery. So many unexpected things can go wrong.

I used to have a lot of fears about surgery. I only remembered surgery from when I was a child. I went from age 7 to age 45 without ever having surgery. Two years ago, my left retina detached and I had 8 tears in it. I ended up having to have emergency surgery to fix it. I am a big chicken, I will admit that right now. I asked them to knock me out, because I knew that I wouldn't be able to handle it (mostly thinks to that move Fire In The Sky where the aliens stick that thing in that guys eye). Since I have asthma and I was very anxious, the doctor agreed to knock me out. It wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be. The past 2 years, I have gotten used to blood tests (WAS a big fear), shots (still leery if they want to come at me with a big needle, especially in the ass), and I found out that I have sleep apnea and that I am seriously sensitive to what ever they use to knock you out for surgery. After my eye surgery, it took me four days to really wake up! I have pretty much avoided the doctor as much as possible, except for recently. This doctor doesn't make me undress or make me feel uncomfortable. I suppose if she knew the things I didn't tell her, all hell would break loose. She can be bossy. I was with my best friend, keeping her company, and I am her caregiver, and our doctor came in. She looked at both of us and in a nut shell said we were getting flu shots. No if's and's or buts about it. I fear getting the gyn exams. The invasiveness of it all, I guess. I haven't had one in years and years, but I know I need one. I think a play doctor exam would help over come that, but I don't know one, or how to meet one and safely, and my Dom ins't in to medfet (but he sure still is fun to play with!).

Anything that involves a tube in the throat, and not being able to breathe on my own. Add on the possibility of being conscious when an ET tube is in? That makes me shiver at the thought.

When i was little i was more concerned with embarrassment over pain. now of course it's the opposite. a bone marrow transplant sounds pretty awful. I'd also be terrified of having any type of procedure where my skull would have to be opened or entered.

Spinal taps! I have had 3 of them and they are very painful. I really hate them!

In a funny kind of way i think a rectal speculum looks terrible. In reality surgery is frightening. I'm pretty sure being out under is similar to how it feels when you die. I've only been put under once, for wisdom teeth surgery. The buzz I had when I woke up was amazing. But the whole going to sleep and leading up to it scared the crap out of me.

I think I would agree with tarzansmom and say a lumbar puncture is what I would fear the most. For those who are not aware a lumbar puncture is a medical procedure in which a needle is inserted into the lower part of the spine to test for conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord or other parts of the nervous system. During the procedure, pressure is measured and samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are taken from inside the spine. This is done without the use of local anesthetic as it can affect the results. I have assisted with quite a few over the years especially for meningitis and it never gets easier.

The other procedure would be a Bone Marrow Aspiration, a procedure which removes a small amount of bone marrow fluid and cells through a needle put into a bone. The bone marrow fluid and cells are checked for problems with any of the blood cells made in the bone marrow.

They occasionally perform a bone marrow biopsy in which they removes bone with the marrow inside to look at under a microscope. The aspiration (taking fluid) is usually done first, and then the biopsy. Although they use local anesthetic its still a rather unpleasant procedure when they start to go through the bone. The most common areas used are the posterior superior iliac crest, the anterior superior iliac crest ( if the posterior cannot be used) or the sternum (as a last resort in those older than 12 years ).

Yes very true about lumbar puncture. I have had about 7 of them in past 6-7 months.. gruesome every freaking time.

Also liver biopsy was very painful for me.

Yikes spankingmaster I would not have been a "happy bunny" to have that many lumbar punctures over such a relatively short period of time, but I know they were medically necessary. Nonetheless I'm sure it was not very pleasant .

I've always had an intense fear of being put under for a surgery. I just can't imagine being out so damn unconscious that I can't feel anything, and having no knowledge of time lapsed. It's almost like being dead. And I compare the steel gurney to a butcher's slab. Why people put themselves through such risk for "needless" surgery is beyond me. Having a life saving heart bypass or gallbladder removed is understandable. But mindlessly risking death for bigger tits or a mannequin face is just plain stupid.

There are a few procedures I hope to NEVER have: Lumbar puncture, chest drain insertion and removal, bone marrow biopsy, liver and or kidney biopsy.

I do have one fear, being prepped for surgery with general anesthesia, and still being fully awake and not able to communicate with the monitors not registering that I am still fully awake.

In 2006, I was scheduled for a TURP operation. While I was lying on the gurney waiting to go into theatre, I looked at the tagged label they had tyed onto me and it read PROSTATECTOMY, OMY is removal, so I'm off the gurney and down to the office to ask what is going on?? Had I not been a medical photographer years ago and been aware what the tag said my operation was to be, I'd have lost my prostate. Just shows you can't trust anyone these days. Regards irrigator333

I have been very lucky I do not have any horror medical procedure stories...that I remember. When I was 4 or 5 I was being put under for my sinus surgery, although I don't remember anything personally my mom says when there were gassing me I was screaming my head off. I am not sure if this counts but I thought I would share. I would have to say my biggest fear would have to be being under for surgery as in general anesthesia but being fully aware of what was going on around me.

The sound of a morticians suction trocar when I've not actually checked out

@RNinCA - thought that you were into the OR - on both sides of the mask!

Getting Embalmed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do I have to say anything else???

Hurt me, Hurt me, nevrrmind just Burn Me!!!

With a "flick of a Bic!!"

highwater

Most feared and in reality very painful was a spinal tap in 1985. The procedure was bad enough but the spinal "headaches" lasted for 3 days. Literally could not move my head with out pain. Next worse was a sigmoidoscopy....why they would do such a thing in this day and age is beyond me. That was 15 years ago. I had a colonoscopy 4 years ago, completely painless in and out quickly and the doctors were given much more information.

I'm having surgery to repair a hernia next week. I am reading Peggy Huddleston's Prepare for surgery: Heal Faster. I would recommend it. I'll let you know after the surgery, the impact I believe it made.